Winawer Variation, Portisch-Hook Variation
- 1.e4e6
- 2.d4d5
- 3.Nc3Bb4
- 4.e5c5
- 5.a3Bxc3+
- 6.bxc3Qa5
1,041 games
A Winawer French line in which Black plays 6...Qa5 to pressure White's damaged queenside pawns, usually met by 7. Bd2.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Portisch-Hook Variation
The Portisch-Hook Variation meets 6. bxc3 with 6...Qa5, hitting the weakened c3-pawn in the hope of provoking awkward piece placement. White almost always defends with 7. Bd2, and 7...Qa4 then halts the a-pawn and keeps White's queen tied to the c2-pawn. The main line 8. Qg4 induces 8...Kf8 or 8...g6, and White often concedes c2 for a lead in development. The name likely refers to Lajos Portisch and William Hook.